The other United

“The United players walk off to sustained applause at Tannadice after a 5-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock, doing that clap above the head thing that footballers do,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s not quite Boxing Day and Steve McQueen yet, more like Bonfire Night, but still ...”

Full time: Manchester United 0-1 Southampton

Southampton win at Old Trafford again! Charlie Austin, a bargain at £4m, came off the bench to score a late winner. Louis van Gaal isn’t exactly being overwhelmed with goodwill as he walks towards the tunnel.

A familiar sight this season on the Manchester United bench. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

“Me again,” says Patrick Rennie. “After you dug out that Kewell goal I started hunting for a long forgotten (almost) goal. Anyone remember when Gary Neville almost lobbed Buffon from 25 yards out? Here it is (3m45s).”

Manchester United 0-1 Southampton (Austin 87)

The substitute Charlie Austin scores on his debut! “Why did no-one else come in for him?” screams Charlie Nicholas. It was a fine header, and Southampton are set for consecutive 1-0 wins at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham (Alli 84)

“Dennis Bergkamp-esque!” screams Phil Thompson. Matt Le Tissier is clapping in the Sky studio. “You should get two goals for that,” says Jeff Stelling. It was a stunning turn or volley, or so my snouts tell me. and should give Spurs a deserved win. Never mind Leicester, it would be almost as refreshing if Spurs were to win the league.

Leicester’s next three games are Liverpool (H), Man City (A) and Arsenal (A). If they pick up, say, seven or even five points from those games, something brilliant really might be happening.

After that they have a really good run of fixtures: Norwich, West Brom, Watford, Newcastle, Palace, Southampton, Sunderland, West Ham, Swansea, Man Utd, Everton and Chelsea on the last day of the season.

“Thanks for reminding me about that Kewell goal,” says Matt Dony. “He really was fantastic for Leeds. I remember being so excited at his Big Announcement about joining Liverpool. Harry ‘fit-for-the-finals’ Kewell. Never lived up to the thrillingly creative promise. See also, Fernando Morientes and Joe Cole.”

I wonder how different his life might have been if he hadn’t turned down United. He was magnificent for Leeds, especially from 1998 to 2000.

Meanwhile, Jamie Ward has given Nottingham Forest the lead at Middlesbrough. It’s still 0-0 at Old Trafford. Of course it is. “Oh, Rob, that it’s come to this,” writes Mac Millings. “Fergie’s last game was a 10-goal thriller.”

Leicester 2-0 Stoke (Vardy 66)

Jamie Vardy ends his drought with an excellent goal, outpacing the Stoke defence before going round Butland to score. When you peruse your Sunday newspaper tomorrow, Leicester will be top of the Premier League.

“As a Forest fan, the Foxes are bringing back fond memories of the 1977-78 season when we were promoted from the second division and promptly won the whole caboodle,” says Mark Turner. “Particular memories of Bob Wilson on Grandstand every Saturday lunchtime asking the world ‘When will the Forest bubble burst?’. It didn’t.”